Elevator control mechanism for envelope-making machines



A. E. AUGUSTINE. ELEVATOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES.

APPLIC TION FILED FEB. 24, I920- 1,43%824.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

Patented Oct. 24;, 1922.

A. E. AUGUSTINE. ELEVATOR CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I920.

Patented Oct) 24, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

A. E. AUGUSTINE.

CHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1920.

ELEVATOR CONTROL ME 4 SHEETSSHEET 3 51/ mllmm Patented Oct-:24, 1922.

A. E. AUGUSTINE.

CHANISM FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1920.

ELEVATOR CONTROL ME Patented Oct. 24, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i eitentetl iictn 245, i922,

ih liihtti ADDISON n anei samnyon 1: e rnnsecn, new esslenon 're enlistees llLAGHIN-EDQ. 11%,, engine 1\T. Y conrona'rien or new Yen's,

ELEVATOR ceirrrnot MECHANISM nonsnvnnoen-mnnrne MACHINES.

. Application filed February 24;, "1920. Serial No. 360,968.

' To a l wi e/2L it ir'mg/ concern I Be it known that I, l tmrrson E. i\U(lUS Tine, residing at l lackensack, in the county of Bergen and State of new .Jerseyfl ave invented certain newand useful Improvements in Elevator'Control Mechanism for Envelepe-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an elevator control mechanism, and embodies an improvement ver'the structure shown and described in pending application Serial No. 315,395,

' and August 5, 1919.

An oh eet of the present improvement is to provic an elevator control. mechanism including a simple and etiicient device automatically oper when the elevator has given position; I i A further object is to so design the parts that the elements which arehdapted foret- "liecting' the lowering ot'the elevator .may be connected withthe machine asan attachbeen elevated to a meut so that it may be rcniovedif desired without interfering with the normal operation or theremainingmechanism.

()therobjects and" aims "of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above. will he in part olri'ie-us and in part pointed out in the course ot the following description o'ltthe elements, combinations,

arrangements of parts and zupplicationsof' principles, COHStltHtilif the invention; and

thescope ot protection contemplated will'be indicated in the appendedclaims. I

In the accompanying drawings which are tobe te en as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merelya pret'erred term of embodiment of the invention:- w v Figure l is a front,elevatienal view. of a portion of an envelope-mainng machine irr parts ot' the elevator inechanisni'and of the present invention A he features embodied therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane of line ll of .l i QI.

'F' ure- 3 is a. front elevational view of a per 1011 oi? the structure seen in Figrlpthe sect-ion being taken substantially upon the plane of line ill of 2. V

'5 Figure 4 is a verticalsectional view taken 'suhsthntially upon the plane of line IV of Fig.

.hle "to lower the elevator- I can I plvotallyconnected, as atl), with the lower Figure 5 is a verticalsectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line V of Fig. 2, and i i Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the kicker lever seenin Fig. 2.

Referring-to the drawings for describing in d'etailthe structure which is illustrated therein, the reterence character L indicates a supporting tahle WlHCll'lS included in the endo'i a red 10, the upper endot which has pivotally connected therewith, by meansolf pivot-pm 11, a pawl 12 being arranged for engaging: the teeth oi a ratchet 13 fixediupon a. shaft 14.- lhe shaft 14 is mountedin an I elongated hearing member 15 and carries loosely ajcranli' 16 which in 'turn supports the pivot pin 11 and pawl 12 so to maintain the pawlin proper operative association with the teeth of the ratchet at all tii'nes. I

A tension spring-17 is connected to the rock lever 7 so as to. urge the roller 8 toward the surface of the cam and at the same time to lift the rod 10.:1'nd the pawl 12 whenever the cam turns to permit.

The shapeot the cam is such'that at each rotation a relatively depressed surtaceportion, as 18, thereoi is caused to pass beneath the roller 8. As the surface 18 passes, the pawl l2will move upwardly for engaging the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet l3.

' if nothinQhappens to prevent the pawl 12 will move the ratchet the space of one tooth with each revolution of the cam.

A. suitable adjustable stop 19 is provided in the lever '7 arranged for engaging the with the shaft 23 so that' rotation of the shaft It will impart a certain degree of rotation to the shaft 23 so long as the pawls 24: are in engagement with theratchet 24?. T he'shaft is disposed in a horizoi'ital'posi tion and is mounted to rotate in bearings 26 provided upon the frame 27 fixed to and depending from the table L; Intermediate the bearings 26 the shaft 23 carries fixed thereto a small gear 28, the teeth of which engage the teethof a racl; bar 29 which is fixed to the elevator 30; i The elevator has opposite wardly sothatthe upper level ofthe pile is maintainedduring the operation of the ma chine. The'pawls Qet are pivotally mounted, as at upon the relatively outer surface of the worm gear 22 so-tliat their-free ends are adapted to swing toward and away from the centerline of the shaft 23, and into and out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 25,.wlnch teeth PI'OJGCiJ radially from said ratchet. Each of the'pawls carries a finger.

36 which extends through openings 37 in the gear 22 and which project somewhat beyond the inner or rear surface of said rear substantially as indicated. Tension springs 38 engage the inner ends of the fingers for urging the pawls normally into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet.

. Between the gear 22 and the .adjacei'it surface 39 of the frame 27' is arranged a collar 41 slidable longitudinally of the shaft 23. This collar is forn'iedv with an annulargroove til. within which engages the lingers 452 of a handoperable yoke 4-3 by which to move the collar back and forth along the shaft 23. The. forward. end of the collar is bevelled off to provide a cone-shaped surface 44.- disposed. for engaging the ends ofthe lingers 36 whenever the collar ismoved toward said fingers,

The yoke 43 is connected with a pivot pin 4:5 carried by the frame 527 and fitted with an appropriately extended handle part 46- by which to move the collar at will.

lVhen the'collar isin the position, as

shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing; that is,

when it is free of engagement with the fin gers 36, the springs 38- are free to exercise their function of holding the pawls 241. in

engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 25. But when the handle L6 isswung to move the collar forwardy then the cone surface a l of the collar presses the fingers 36 elevator. I

radially outwardly and positively lifts and holds the pawls out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 25;

WVhe'never the pawls arelifted out of engagement with the ratchet 25, the gear 22 will rotate idly about the shaft and will impart no rotation to said shaft.- By this simple arrangement it becomes unnecessary to stop the operation of the entire machine when for any reason it becomes desirable only to stop the upward movement of the The fact that the cone surface l l annular enablesit to properly cooperate with 1 thelin'gers 36 irrespective of the rotary positionof the lingers relative to said surface.

At the san'ietime, the gear with said itiners will be allowed to rotate freelv with Z I .1 said fingers around the cone surface.-

hand wheel l is fizgedto the outer end of the shaft 93 so that said shaft maybe turned at will whenever it is desired to move the elevator irrespective of the automatic driving mechanism just described. When it is desired to rotate the shaft for lowering the elevator it is necessary first to move the handle l6 for disconnecting the pawls 2% from the ratchet- 25. The pa-wls 245, while in engagement with-the teeth of the ratchet 25,

prevent rotation. of the shaft ZS'underthe weight of the elevator 30. lVhen, however, the handle has been moved sufliciently to disconnect the pawls 24: from. the ratchet the weight of the elevator will cause the elevator to fall at once to its lowest position, the

shaft 23 with the ratchet'25'meanwhile turning idly in its bearings.

lVheneve-r it is desired to raise the elevator, this may he done without diswnnectinp; the pawls since rotation of the shaft in a direction for lifting'the elevator will simply canse the teeth of the ratchet 25 to click backwardly beneath the ends of the pawls.

lVith the mechanism as thus far described, it will be apparent that rotation. of the cam v 3, and the consequent step by step rotation of the shaft 14-, will cause the elevator to be lifted one step at each. rotation of the cam while the pawls 2 are in cooperative relationwith the ratchet 25.

Suitable mechanism may be provided, if desired, for influencing the rotation of the shaft 14 seas thus to prevent rotation of said shaft when the top level of the pile 34' of blanks is at a sufficient elevation. This mechanism, as well as the mechanism herein above set forth, is fully described in pending application Serial No. 315,395, filed August 5, 1919, and consists in a feeler lever H pivotally-mounted intermediate its ends, as at 47, in a standard 48 carried by the table L. This feeler member has an end surface 49for resting upon the upper surface 50 of the pileof envelope blanks. The opposite end of the feeler is pivotally connected', as at 51, to the upper. end of a rod 52 which rod extends downwardly into pivotal cormectionwith thepivot ,pinll already described as carrying the paw-1&2.

' Although the cam 3will rotate continuously, yet the lever H will prevent therod 10 from moving upwardly the full distance with any rotation ofthe' cam which occurs while the level 50 of theblanks. is sutliv place at intervals while thehlanks are being removed from the pile-S l-during the epera tion of the machine. a I

The-worm wheel 22, hemp; loose upon the shaft and being adapted to be connectedto and disconnectedwlirom the shaft at the will of the ope a-tor, ishereinaifter referred to as the drivewheel for theshaft.

After themachinc has operated-for a sufii -cientltime so that'all, or nearly all, of the blanks upon. the elevator havebcen removed, and the elevatoris, therefore, substantially in its highest position, it desirable that the elevatormove automatically out of this position and preferably to its loivest p.osi tion ready to receivea further pile of blanks. This not only saves theoperator thetime and trouble of nutnually lowering the. elevator, but it also serves as a simple and effective indication to the operator that his macl'i'ine requires replenishing, lV'here :a' "battery of machines is being operated the falling; ofntlie platforms constitutes a particularly appropriate and effective means of notification to the operator.

' 9 As above mentioned ll'plS .a particular object of the presentinvention to provide means for aecomphshmgthe automatic tall- ..ing of the elevator. While any appropriate .n'iechan-ism maybe employed for producing spaced pivot portions M-adapted to straddle the SH}; Dotting bracket piece: 55 of the yoke l and to receive and pivotrupon the opposite end-portions of the pivot pin 45.

portion 56. connectingtogether the pivotportions is offset and is .positionedto overlap andengage against the inner slde of thevolts; 43. The main 3o.rt1on ot the lever extends througlnanopeningl 57 termed in the adjacent wall of the l rame 27, and has connected therewith at-tension spring 58 ar- -;ranged normally to swingzthe lever. so that the portion '56 forces the spread end of the yoke -outvvardly. i

A latch lever 59 is pivotall-y mounted;

latch lever 59 is lifted so that the lever at fii upon a bracket piece 61; and has its free end arranged in the path of an operating pin 63 which is carried by the plat form 80. The latch lever extends over the inner end of the lever and normally rests ,70 'uponthe upper surface of the lever 53. p A suitable shoulder 69iis formed in the under 'surl aceof the lever 59 for engaging over the cd'geportion of the lever 53- to retain. the lever 53 against the tension of the spring 58.

The relation the parts is such that when the elevatorahas reached a predetermined elevation the stop pin 63 will engage and lift the lever 59 so that the shoulder 69 will be carried outof the path of the lever The spring-r68- will. immediately snap the lever 53 over so that the spread end of the yoke 43 will carry the collar 4:0 outwardly and disengage the Pfi-WlSQiflOHl the ratchet 25 in substantially the same manner as said collarwould he moved by the manual operation of the handle 16, as above described.

The elevator being thus caused to fall the operator replenishes the. supply of blanks upon the elevator, and returns the lever 53 to position behind the shoulder-.69 of the latch lever. vHe may move the elevator up to assuitable starting point it he desires by manual operation otthe handle t.

When the elevator is in-its lowered. position the lower end 'Z-{l .ottherack 25) rests ment of the handle, l6 which, at the same time moves back the collar 40 allowing the pawls 52 1- to move into engagement withthe ratchet 25. Flore it should beparticularly noted that when the lever 53 is in its retained position the yoke 43 is entirely :lt'ree to move the collar l0 by means of the handle 46 at anytime without effecting the position of the lever It. should also be .notcdthat who ever the U is unlatched, the r s iitant movement 0. the collar sill, under: the impulse or theispring accom1 lished almost instanii'mcousl l hemoveinent of the pawls 'l'rom their Iully engaged position with the teeth of the ratchet to their fully disengaged position, is

pthusj accomplished so. quickly that .the .llilQLUli/ o'l' v'earproduccd by the frequent engagement and disengagement of thepawls is reduced to a minimum.

If desired a hardened deti'ichablewear ' latefilmay. be connected with the ever 5?; .111 LLpOSiiIlOD, tor engraving; the shoulder 69 oi the latch lever thus reducing; wear to a munmunnnt this point.-

The stop pin is preferably. connected with the elevate adjustably. For this purpose the body plate-o1"? the elevator may be provided witlra slot 6-5, the stop pin being provided withia rectangular xtensionvtie ere "tending through said slot and being held by imiintainedin'proper 'positionat all times. '10 i i As many changes could. be made in' this construction without departing from the seopeof the invention. as defined in the fol. lowing claims. it is i nteiuled that all" matter contained in the above deseriptioiifior shown in the zurcompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

' ".l-l laving thus described my invention, what,

claim as new and d lsire to secure by Letters Patent is: v v

l 1. In elevator control,mechanism for onvelope .inali'ingmachines, an elevator adapted for supporting a-"pile of envelope blanks, ineansfor moving the elevator upwardly in- ,cluding' a rotatablv mounted shaft, a ratchet fixedto said shaft, a drive member rotatable "about said shaft, a part carried by the mentioned. drive member yieldingly engaging said ratchet whereby rotation, of the drive memberwill drive the shaft, means to rotate the (lllVO member, a manually operable member operable tomove sai'dipart at will out of engagement with said ratchet to thereby disconnect the driving member from said shaftto permit downward movement of the elevator, and means antoinatically operable also to'efl'eet movement (i'ilrfilltl n'ianually operable means when the elevator has reached a predetermined elevation.

2. In. elevator control. mechanism for en- 'velo ieanaking machi ne's,v an elevator adapted for supporting a pile of envelope blanlv's, means for moving the elevator upwardly including a rotatably mounted shaft, :2 ratchet fixed to said shaft, a driveniember rotatable about said haft, a part carried. by the mentioned drive member yieldiugl y engaging said ratchet whereby rotation of the drive member will drive the shaft, means to rotate the drive .iuember', amlmeans automatically operable to move said part out of engage ment with said ratchet to thereby permit downward movement of the elevator when the elevator has reached apredeteiunhied elevation.

I wheel for the shaft mounted loosely upon the shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft, a pawl carried by the drive wheel at one side thereof .yieldingly engaging the ratchet wheel, a finger extending from the pawl 1 aaeee through an openin in the drive wheel to t the opposite side of said drive wheel, and means automatically operable move into engagement with said finger for disengaging the pawl from theratehet. i 4. In elevator-control Inechanisnrfor envelope-machines, an elevaton for supporting a pile (if-envelope blanks, means for moving the elevator upwardly includii'ig a rotatably mounted shaftya drivewheel for the shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft, a pawl car-- ried by thedrive'wheel at one side thereof adapted toengage the drive wheel, a finger extendin from the pawl through an opening in the drive wheel to the opposite side ofsaid drive wheel, means engaging said finger at said opposite side of the drive wheel for yieldingly maintaining the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheehand means also at the opposite side of the drive wheel-automatically operative upon said linger for disengaging said pawl from 'said ratchet.

5. In elevator control mechanism for envelop e-making machines, an elevator adapted to support'a pile of envelope blanks, lifting means for lifting the elevator upwardly including a ratchet and a pawl engaging with the ratchet, said pawl being disengageablc from the ratchet to render the lifting means inoperative, and snap acting means to move the pawl quickly froin a fully engaged position to a fully disengaged position relative to the ratchet. i

6; in. elevator control mechanism for onv elope-n raking machines, an elevator adapted to support a pile of envelope blanks, lifting n'ieans for lifting the elevator upwardly including a ratchet and a pawl engaging with. the ratcl'iet, said pawl. being disengageable from the ratchet to render the lifting means lllUIXH'iltlVQ, snapacting means to move the pawl quickly from a fully engaged'position to a fully disengaged position relative to the ratchet, and meanswhereby said snap acting means automatically caused to operate for disengaging the pawl when said elevatorhas reached a pre determined elevation. l i V 7. Inelevatorcontrolmechanism for envelope-malring machines, the combination withfan elevator adapted for supporting a pile of envelope blanks, means for moving the elevator upwardly, and manually operable means for rendering the lifting means operative and inoperative at will, of a part mounted to n o ve independently of said manually operable means, aspring engaging said part tending tourge said part into position for moving said manually operable means to position rendering the lifting means inoperative,, an element restraining said mm against such movement, and means whereby said element is operable to release said part when the elevator reaches a predetermined elevation. l

8. In elevator control mechanism for envelope-making 'IIlklClllTlGS, the comblnation with an elevatoradapted for supporting a pile of envelope blanks, means for moving the elevator upwardly, and manually operable means for rendering the litting means operative and inoperative at will, of a part mounted to move independently of said manually operable means a sprlng engagmg said part tending to urgelsaid part into position for moving said manually operable means to posltlon rendering the lifting. means moperatlve, a plvotally mounted lever arranged adjacent said part having a shoulder thereon normally restraining said part against such movement, and means whereby said lever will be swung to release said part when the elevator reaches a predetermined elevation.

9. In elevator control mechanism for envelope-making machines, the combination with anelevator adapted for supporting a pile of envelope blanks, means for moving the elevator upwardly, and a pivotally mounted hand lever operable for rendering the lifting means operative and. inoperative at will, of a second pivotally mounted lever adjacent said hand lever normally not interfering with the movements of the hand lever means urging said'second lever to position for causing movement otthe hand lever, a third lever, and means where by said third lever is operable to permit with an elevatoradapted for supporting a pile of envelope blanks means for moving the elevator upwardly, and a plvotally mounted hand lever operable for rendering the lifting means operative and inoperative at will, of a second pivotally mounted lever adjacent said hand lever normally not interfering with the movements of the hand lever, means urging said second lever to position for causing movement of the hand lever, a third pivotally mounted lever, said third lever having a shoulder thereon standing to restrain the second lever against its mentioned movement said third lever also having a portion extending to adjacentthe elevator, an abutment piece carried by the elevator to strike said portion of the third lever to move the third lever to disengaging position when the elevator reaches a given elevation, and means whereby said abutment piece is adjustable for the purpose set forth,

In testimony whereot l atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADDISON E. AUGUSTINE.

Witnesses:

L. Gnssronn HANDY, l /lAY SoimirL'rz. 

